By Janet A. Sesay
The Sama Foundation based in the United States has on Friday, 4th July, 2025 donated over fifty bags of rice, quantities of diapers and toys to expectant and suckling mothers and children at the Ola During-Cottage Hospital in Freetown.
The Foundation is established between 2007 and 2008 by Bundu Hayes a Sierra Leonean based in Texas, United States of America.
Hayes establishes this Foundation as his charitable outlet with the main aim and focus to give back Sierra Leone through Sports and other humanitarian interventions as his demonstration of his benevolence in the quest to share with his fellow compatriots in need.
The Sama Foundation has over the years made several such gestures to orphanages and other vulnerable people in need as well as to football, Sierra Leone’s most popular sport. A number of football clubs gave benefitted from the gestures of the Sama Foundation by ways of jerseys, footballs and other paraphernalia all in the bid to enhance the game in the country.
This time around the foundation decided to turn its eyes of humanity to children-born and unborn with items that can help in maintaining their hygiene and in their healthier and happier growth and these included rice, diapers and toys.
During the donation, Durosimi Thomas, a member of the Sama Foundation based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, said the decision to reach out to children, lactating and pregnant women was borne out of their pressing need that was viewed as desperate, given the socioeconomic conditions of many of these women and their children at home. “When you see them, you actually see and feel the need to support them. Their vulnerability can be seen clearly and it is these vulnerable groups that we target with our humanitarian gestures,”Mr. Thomas pointed out.
He thanked the Management and Nurses at the Hospital for their good works and for receiving the said items donated by the foundation, and expressed delight on behalf of the Foundation to have delivered such items, especially the rice which can either be prepared for the mothers and children at the hospital or distributed out to them to take home.
“The Sama Foundation is pleased to be given out a food item that can keep the mothers of our children healthy and strong to take care of them properly,” Mr. Thomas stated.
Matron Francess Pearce of the PCMH-Cottage Hospital expressed delight over the donated items and on behalf of management thanked the Sama Foundation for what she called, “this timely gesture to our pregnant and lactating women and their babies.” She revealed that this is the first time the hospital has received such “a huge package of surprise from a charity organization” and expressed hope that the Foundation will keep the hospital on its list of beneficiaries for future gestures.
Aminata Kamara, a Nursing-Sister at the hospital also on behalf of management thanked the Sama Foundation for the donation, noting that most of their patients-pregnant and lactating women “are vulnerable.”
Distribution of the items including the rice formed part of the high point of the ceremony as the recipients rejoiced and sang praises to God Almighty for providing the means for the Sama Foundation to donate to them items and food that will nourish them for some time.
One of beneficiaries at the Special Care Unit, Ramatu Kamara who gave birth to triplets (all girls) was especially given one and half bags of rice, three huge packets of diapers and handkerchiefs.
She thanked the Foundation for the “surprised donation” revealing that the donation could not have come at any other better time for her. Adding that she really needs help and her father is not strong enough to help her with the children.
The pregnant women at the Labor Ward also thank the foundation for the donations and pray that God continue to bless the people of the foundation.
The beneficiaries thanked the Sama Foundation for their supports and pray for God’s provision so that they can also donate to other people out in the streets who needs help.
They also pray for God’s blessings upon the foundation, adding that the donation really comes at the right time.